Reckless (formerly reckless) deadman vs his killer music teacher...This should be an open and shut case in favor of the music teacher 🎶

 

Keith Sullivan and family 

Murder trial set for man who shot ‘deranged’ neighbor; Supporters say Alabama’s Stand Your Ground Law has failed

January 17, 2025 by Erica Thomas

The murder trial for a man who shot and killed a trespasser in Dekalb County is set for March, despite evidence he was standing his ground.

Keith Sullivan of the Grove Oak community shot and killed his neighbor, Gregory Bagwell, in May 2023. Bagwell allegedly terrorized his neighbors for years. Community members called him “deranged,” and he had been banned from the local gas station due to his erratic behavior.

According to a video by the group “We Stand with Keith,” things happened in the hours leading up to the shooting, making Sullivan believe his life was in danger.

911 callers reported Bagwell, who had previously burned down his own home, was trying to destroy the trailer he lived in, which he did not own. Bagwell was one of the callers.

Police responded, and Bagwell claimed his neighbors had been sodomizing him all day and he asked who called the police. After officers left, Bagwell showed up on Sullivan’s front porch around 2 a.m. Sullivan told his wife to call 911 and went outside. Sullivan said Bagwell reached towards his waistband and moved abruptly toward him. That’s when Sullivan opened fire.

Sullivan later passed a polygraph test, saying he believed Bagwell had a weapon.

Bagwell’s criminal history included drug charges, reckless endangerment, arson, shooting into neighbor’s homes and having a standoff with police. Some of his crimes were featured in statewide news coverage. A previous bond for Bagwell had been revoked three days before the shooting.

Sullivan, a music teacher and church music director, has no criminal history, not even a traffic ticket. He pleaded not guilty to murder. He was denied immunity under Alabama’s Stand Your Ground law.

Supporters say if Sullivan is not immune, the law does not need to exist.

Sullivan’s trial is set for March 3.

To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.

Meanwhile back in 2015

Huntsville Real-Time News

DeKalb County man arrested after allegedly shooting at deputies, standoff

Published: Aug. 21, 2015, 9:16 p.m.

By 

• Jonathan Grass

DeKalb County deputies ended up in a standoff with a suspect shooting at them Friday morning.

Gregory Bagwell

Chief Deputy Michael Edmondson reports that the sheriff's office got a call at of shots fired at about 4 a.m. The caller said bullets hit a residence on County Road 550.

Edmondson said the residence was dark when deputies arrived. They were then fired upon from a nearby residence. Edmondson and Sheriff Jimmy Harris report that deputies got the homeowners to safety and took cover. They said the shooting lasted for about 30 more minutes.

Deputies called in the DeKalb County Special Response Team and Fort Payne City Police to assist. They shot tear gas into the home once the shooting stopped. Deputies report there was a brief standoff before they could get the suspect in custody.

Gregory Mark Bagwell, 53, of Grove Oak was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment.

"This was a dangerous situation and thanks to the deputies, SRT Team, Fort Payne Police Department, State Fire Marshal, Geraldine Police Department, Fyffe Police Department, DeKalb County Drug Task Force, DeKalb Ambulance Service, Grove Oak Fire Department and Air Evac we were able to get Bagwell in custody without incident. This is another example of how agencies working together can make a difference in the safety in DeKalb County," Harris said.

AL.com's news partner, WHNT News 19, reports Bagwell has posted anti-law enforcement messages on social media in the past and has been arrested before. Edmondson told the TV station they've been called about him shooting within the past week and that he's shot holes inside his home.

Meanwhile...

Who decides? 

Grand Jury

The grand jury is a group of eighteen citizens summoned to hear evidence about crimes which have allegedly been committed within its jurisdiction. The grand jury determines whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.

The grand jury proceedings are held in private. The only people allowed before the grand jury are the district attorney, the court reporter, and witnesses. You, as a victim, will not be allowed in the grand jury room either, unless you are giving testimony as a witness. The judge, defendant, and defense attorney are also not allowed to be present. In unusual circumstances, the defendant may testify. After listening to the testimony, the grand jury decides by majority vote whether to issue an indictment or a "true bill." If the grand jury decides there is not enough evidence to continue to charge the defendant, they will "no bill" the case. If a case is "no billed," the charge is dismissed and the defendant is released from custody if he/she was being held.

You may be notified by the victim service officer in the district attorney's office of the outcome of the grand jury. If it is "true billed," it will be given to the judge to set a date for the next court proceeding.

If you would like to take an active role in your case, inform the district attorney in writing of your request.

Go here for full explanation of Alabama’s law